Closure for cases



March 12, 1957 0. H. BOSCA ET AL CLOSURE FOR CASES 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Filed Jan. 12, 1956 FIG-l I. sill-Ill .Illllll :II

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HTTORNEYS 0. H. BOSCA ET AL CLOSURE FOR CASES March 12, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 12, 1956 INVENTOR. 0/?5/N0 H. B05LH MAR/O E. 7

HTTORNE Y5 United States Patent 0 CLOSURE FOR CASES Orsino H. Bosca and Mario E. Bosca, Springfield, Ohio, assiguors to Coronet of Palm Beach, Inc., Springfield, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 12, 1956, Serial No. 558,677

2 Claims. (Cl. 150-68) This invention relates to a closure for cases and to a method of mounting the elements of the closure within the cases. Cases within the purview of the present invention are intended to include billfolds, coin purses, letter cases, pocket secretaries, and similar articles of the nature ordinarily made to be carried in the pocket or purse.

This invention is particularly concerned with a closure arrangement of a case of the general nature referred to employing magnetic elements. In connection with billfolds, coin purses, and the like it is customary for the portions thereof having closures to include snaps or the like to retain the closure in its closing position. Snaps of this nature are ordinarily quite adequate for retaining the compartment closed, but are usually thicker than the entire thickness of the case of which they form a part, and thus create a bump or bulge, usually on both sides of the article to which they are attached.

In connection with billfolds, particularly the type carried in the hip pocket, this type of closure will sometimes produce such a pronounced bulge or bump on the billfold as actually to cause wear of the pocket in which the billfold is carried. This bump or bulge can also be quite uncomfortable and, in many cases, will produce a bump on the case which will tend to wear through and become unsightly.

Having the foregoing in mind, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a closure which eliminates the difficulties referred to above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a closure for billfolds, coin purses, and like cases which is extremely thin, thus avoiding unsightly bulges and undesirable thickness of the case, of which the closure: forms a part.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a closure for cases and the like which is somewhat flexible in that the cooperating elements of the closure need not be brought into any precise position of registration to effect the closing desired.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a closure for cases and the like which eliminates snaps, hooks and the like, and which can be completely concealed within the material of the article.

A particular object of the present invention is the provision of a strapless-type closure for cases of the general nature referred to in which extremely'thin flat closure elements can be employed,

in general, the objectives referred to above,]as'well as still other objectives of the present invention, are attained by mounting cooperating magnetic elements, at least one of which is magnetized, in the adjacent portions of an article that form the closure therefor. For example, a thin strip of magnetic material in one of the portions can cooperate with amagnet mounted in the other portion, which magnet is an extremely high strength magnet such as Alnico, or both of the magnetic members which consist of Alnico or similarly strong magnetic material.

According to one modification of the present invention the magnetic elements are contained. within the material of the case, which material may be thin plastic, or, preferably, high grade leather.

According to another modification of the present in.- vention one or both of the magnetic elements are exposed so that they can come into direct face to face contact, thereby greatly increasing the strength by which the parts of the closure are retained in their closed position. a

This invention also contemplates utilizing at least one of the magnetic elements as a stiffener for a long thin member such as a wall of a letter case or pocket secretary. It is also conceived that, whereas for a fairly short closure flap, a single magnet will suffice, and that for an elongated member, such as in the caseof a letter case or pocket secretary, a plurality of magnets may be required to effect a sulficiently strong closure along the entire length of the closure flap.

The several objectives and advantages of this invention referred to above will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a billfold havingfla closure arrangement according to the present invention on the card case section thereof;

Figure 2 is a sectional view indicated by line 2-2 on Figure 1 showing one of the magnetic members of the closure arrangement and the mannerin'which it is mounted on the material of the card case;

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view indicated by line 3-3 on Figure 1 showing a second element of the magnetic closure and the manner in which it is mounted in another portion of the card case;

t Figure 4 is a perspective view showing merely the card case portion of the billfold with a double magnetic Figure 7 is a perspective view showing how a magnetic closure according to the present invention can be adapted to a coin purse of a nature that might be included in the billfold structure of Figure 1;-

Figure "8 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a magnetic closure could advantageously be adapted to a key case;

Figure}. is a perspective view showing a case" of the" type, that opens up flat, such as a manicure kit, and the" manner in which a closure according to the present invention is adapted thereto; t t

Figure. 10 is a perspective view showing a cigarette case having a flap adapted for being closed by an arrange ment according to this invention;

Figure 11 is a perspective view showing another type i of a cigarette case in which the cap portion is metal and the case. is opened by a hinged lid, which lid has a mag netic closure; and

Figure l2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which one of the elements of the magnetic closure could be mounted externally of the ma terial of the case, thereby to serve as a trim strip as well as a closure element.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, Figure 1 shows a billfold of a substantially conventional type adapted for being carried in the hip pocket or in a purse. This billfold, as is the case with most billfolds, includes a card case section which has a first side wall 12 extending through a sleeve portion 14 of the billfold and terminating in a short hinged flap element 16.

The card case also includes a second side wall 18 that extends downwardly over the face of sleeve portion 14 so as to overlap, or be overlapped by, flap portion 16. In the hinge of the card case there may be provided a metallic clip 20 which is arranged for supporting transparent pockets or the like 22, of a more or less conventional nature, within the card case for retaining identification cards, drivers licenses, etc.

The conventional card case arrangement has a snaptype closure according to the present invention. This type closure is eliminated and replaced by a magnetic closure device that eliminates snaps and other devices that tend to wear out and be diificult to operate, and which are bulky and expensive, but, instead, employs a pair of thin flat magnetic elements, at least one of which is magnetized; and which are retained, one within the flap portion 16 and the other within the outer end of wall 18 of the card case.

As will be seen in the drawings, the flap portion 16 has therein the magnet 24 which, as will be seen in Figure 2, is retained between two thicknesses of the material making up the card case as by folding the end of the material back and cementing the two overlying portions of the material together with the magnet therebetween.

In a similar manner the front wall 18 has mounted therein an elongated thin strip 26 of magnetic material which may, or may not, be magnetized and which is also retained between two thicknesses of material of the card case, as indicated in Figure 3.

' It will also be seen in Figure 3 that the material in the region of the end portion of the front wall 18, and also of the flap portion 16 of the back wall, may be skived so th'at the card case is thinner in that region than elsewhere, and is thus somewhat more flexible thereby permitting the two portions of the case containing the interengageable magnetic elements of the closure and the flap to conform to each other whereby the two closure elements will readily engage and remain engaged even though the case is twisted or subjected to abuse.

It will also be noted that the closure elements are so arranged as to engage one another slidably, whereby there is no precise fixed registration necessary between the two elements in order to eifect a closure of the case. This permits considerable latitude with regard to amount of material placed within the case and also makes for easier opening and closing of the case and prevents the development of unduly high stresses in the region of the closure elements as would obtain in the case of a snap closure or the like.

The desirable flexibility of the portions of the case containing the closure elements relative to each other may also be obtained by forming the case of a flexible material which is stifiened intermediate the end portions by a stiffener element cemented thereto.

In the modification of Figure 1 it will be apparent that the card case could readily be disassembled from the billfold and could be carried or utilized as a separate case if desired.

The arrangement of Figure 4 is quite similar to that of Figure 1, except that in Figure 4 the magnetic closure device comprises a pair of magnets 28 and 30 which project outwardly through the material of the case and are carried by the case, either by being cemented thereto or by being attached to the material of the case as by the wing portions 32 cemented between the plies of the material of the case. I

The magnetic elements 28 and 30 are adapted for cooperation with the magnetic strip 34 in the other portion of the case, which strip is arranged so that the portions thereof that normally are engaged by the magnets are projecting through the material of the case, whereby the elements of the magnetic closure will come into direct face to face engagement when the case is closed thereby providing for an extremely strong closure.

in Figures 5 and 6 there is shown a pocket secretary or letter case which is in the form of a relatively elongated 'case, about twice as long or a little longer than the modification previously referred to, and in this instance the magnetic closure-is similar to What has been described except that the advantage is taken of the magnetic closure to form a stiffening element for one edge of the case.

In Figure 5 magnets 36 and 38 are mounted in one side of the case, and in the other side of the case is an elongated magnetic element 40 which not only stiifens the edge of the case but also cooperates with magnets 36 and 38 to form a closure.

Figures 5 and 6 also show a modified arrangement wherein the edge of the case containing magnetic element 40 is extended outwardly to form a flap portion 42 containing a second magnetic element 44 so that when the case is closed flap portion 42 is bent over, as indicated in Figure 6, whereby magnets 36 and 38 are retained between the magnetic elements 40 and 44, thereby providing an extremely strong closure and one in which there are no projecting edges that might tend to pull the case open.

Figure 7 shows a coin purse arrangement wherein a coin purse 46 may be mounted inside a billfold 48 or the like, and which coin purse includes a closure flap 50 and which closure flap is adapted for being retained in closed position against the front of the coin purse by a magnetic closure means 52 constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 8 shows how a magnetic closure of the present invention can be adapted to a key case, wherein the key case comprises a front wall 54 and magnet means 56 carried thereby, which magnet means are adapted for cooperation with a magnetic strip 58 carried in the back wall 60 of the case. According to this invention magnetic strip 58 may comprise an extension attached to, or integral with, the metallic frame 62 which carries the key hooks 64. This arrangement simplifies the construction by eliminating the magnetic strip separate from the frame'62.

Figure 9 shows a manicure kit or the like having a magnetic closure according to the present invention. This modification is characterized in that the case comprises a back wall 64 with a plurality of wall portions 66, 68, 70 and 72 hinged thereto so that the case will open up flat. According to the present invention the wall portions that are hinged to the back Wall 64 carry magnetic strips 71 or magnets 74, or both, so that when I the flaps are closed the metallic elements come into register with each other and retain the case in its closed position.

Figure 10 shows a cigarette case in which cover 76 has a flap 78 that carries a magnetic flap 80 for cooperation with the magnet means 82 carried in the adjacent wall of the cigarette case.

Figure 11 is a similar cigarette case, except that the upper end of the case 84 has a metallic cover 86, the metal of the cover preferably being non-magnetic such as brass; the cover portion 86 has a lid 88 hinged thereto and in the edge of the lid is arranged a magnetic element 90 arranged in opposition to a second magnetic element 92 and the stationary portion of cover 86.

One of the elements 90, 92 is magnetized and a magnetic closure arrangement according to the present invention is thus provided.

In Figure 4 it was indicated how one, or both, or" the elements of the magnetic closure could be exposed to provide for a strong attraction between the elements of the closure arrangement, and Figure 12 indicates how this idea can be carried still further by utilizing as at 94 an exposed strip of magnetic material which is crimped about the edge of wall 96 of the case to provide not only a decorative edge thereof, but also stiffening means and a closure element as well. Strip 94 could be plated or polished or otherwise made decorative and, in addition, serve as a closure element and also enhance the appearance of the case.

Many of the cases referred to above could be made of any suitable or flexible or semi-stiff material; a good grade of leather being preferred, but plastic materials or the like being adaptable as well.

The closure device of the present invention has been illustrated in connection with said cases, such as billfolds, letter cases, and the like, but it will be understood that we intend generally to adapt the closure of this invention to substantially any type of case, particularly cases of fairly small sizes.

It will further be understood that one of the features of this invention which we wish to stress is the extreme thinness of the closure arrangement, and that in all cases both the magnet and the magnetic strip cooperating therewith are made as thin as possible, while still providing for the desired degree of attraction between the elements to effect the closure desired.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modification in order to adapt it to different usages and conditions, and accordingly it is desired to comprehend such modifications Within this invention as may fall within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. As an article of manufacture, a billfold comprising overlying flexible sheet material secured together and providing an elongated pocket for storing paper money, a sleeve portion arranged thereon, a card case section having a first side wall extending through, said sleeve portion and terminating inya short hinged flap portion, a second side wall on said card case section which extends over the face of said sleeve portion, said second side wall having an end portion adapted to engage the flap portion of said first side wall, a magnet secured to said flap portion of the first wall, and said second wall having a thin piece of magnetic material attached thereto and arranged adjacent the end thereof and engageable with said magnet of the first wall when the card case section isciosed whereby said case section is retained closed by the magnetic force exerted by the magnet on the magnetic material.

2. As an article of manufacture, a billfold comprising overlying flexible sheet material secured together and providing an elongated pocket for storing paper money, said flexible sheet being adapted to be folded at its midsection, a sleeve portion arranged on one side of said midseetion, a card case section removably attached to said sleeve portion, said case section having a first side wall extending through said sleeve portion and terminating in a hinged flap portion, a second side wall on said card case section which is adapted to overlie said sleeve portion and provide a hinged cover wall for said card case, said second side wall having an end portion engageable with the flap portion of said first side wall, a magnet secured to said flap portion of the first side Wall, and said second wall having magnetic material secured thereto and arranged to register with said magnet of the flap portion when the card case section is closed whereby said case section is retained closed by the magnetic force exerted by the magnet on the magnetic material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

